Control mechanism for the wringer rolls of a washing machine



July 6, 1937. P. E. GFVLLDHOF CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THE WRINC'ER ROLLSOF A WASHING MACHINE INVENTBR 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 20

ATTBRNEYS S 5 E N H July 6, 1937.

P. E. GELDHOF CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THE WRINGER ROLLS OF A WASHINGMACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1933 WITNESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

INVEMTBR Awmmexs July 6, 1937. P. E. GELDHOF 2,086,496

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THE WRINGER ROLLS OF A WASHING MACHINE Filed 001;.20, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet '5 7 //////1 m WAW/AWAAVV/l/b W l, r-I 0 IWITNESS July 6, 1937. E GELDHQF 2,086,496

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THE WRINGER ROLLS OF A WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct.20, 1953 4 SheetSSheec 4 INVERTER Awmmms Patented July 6,. 1937 ROLIQJSOF A WASHING MACHINE Peter Eduard ,Geldhof, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor toEasy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application October 20, 1933, SerialNo. 694,428

. 20 Claims.

My invention relates to control mechanism for the wringer rolls of awashing mabhine.

An object of my invention is to provide means whereby the starting,stopping and reversing of the rolls may be accomplished with but slightphysical effort.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby, uponoperation of the usual safety device associated with the wringer rolls,

' the power of the drive shaft is automatically employed to disengagethe driving mechanism for the rolls.

A further object of my invention is to provide a push button control forthe wringer rolls of a washing machine whereby the rolls may becontrolled from both sides of the machine.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a wringer rolldriving and reversing unit which maybe mounted on a washing machine,

driven therefrom-and swung to any position with respect thereto, theunit including a driving clutch thrown by the power of the drive shaftinto engagement With' either of, a pair of re-' siliently mounted clutchelements, the assembly s driven together.

being so arranged that the entire driving and reversing mechanism ismounted in a compact unit in a convenient position for operation.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a clutch elementthrown by power into and out of engagement with the clutch elementseffort from either side of the machine and whereby the operation of theusual safety device for the rolls operates to stop the rotation of therolls automatically.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhichz- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the wringer rolls and thecontrol means therefor. 1

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure. 3 is a side elevation-partially in section showing theconstruction of the safety device and control mechanism-for the wringerrolls? Figure 4 is a View taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing the interior casing and relationof parts of the wrlnger roll safety device. 1 Figure 8 is a' view takenon line 88 of Figure 5.

(01. sa -s2) Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8. Figure 10is a view similar to Figure 2 with-the push button control arranged sothat it is operable on eitherside of the wringer rolls.

-Figure 11 is a view taken on line ll-ll of 5 Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a'perspective view showing the construction of a modifiedform of driving clutch adapted for use in my control mechanism.

In general, as shown in Figure 1, the wringer 10 roll structure andcontrol mechanism therefor comprise a supporting tube H mounted on thewashing machine in any usual and well-known manner and adapted toreceive and support a hollow boss .I2 depending from a casing l3enclosl5 ing and supporting the roll driving and reversing mechanism. Adrive shaft l4 extends upwardly concentric with the supporting tube IIand is driven from the driving mechanism of the washing machine in anyusual manner well-known in the art to which this invention applies.

The drive shaft I4 is slotted at its upper extremity to receive pins IEon the lower end of a. drive shaft I! so that the shafts I4 and I! are Aspring-pressed plunger [5 manually operable by a handle I5 is mounted inthe depending boss l2 and is selectively engageable with any one of aplurality of apertures 20 formed circumferentially of the supportingtube i I. With this construction the entire wringer as- 30 semblytogether with the casing 13, may be removed from the supporting tube Hby a vertical lift or may be swung about the axis of the supporting tubeI i so as to be moved with relation to the tub of the washing machineinto any desired 35 position.' As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3,the, drive shaft i1 projects upwardly into the casing l3 and has bearingsupports therein at I8 and I9. The shaft I1 is suppdrted againstlongitudinal displacement by asset screw 2|, the end of which is fittedinto a recess 23 formed in the upper end of the shaft l'l.

A- driving clutch element 24, mounted on andkeyed to the shaft I! so asto be continuously rotated thereby, is longitudinally shiftable intoengagement with either of a pair of driven clutch elements 26 and 21.

The driving clutch element 24 is retained in a desired one of aplurality of positions by a spring-pressed ball 28 which, when theclutch is shifted, rides into any one of a plurality of apertures 29fdrmed in the driving clutch. The driven clutch elements are splinedrespectively as indicated at 3| to a pair of beveled reversing gears 32and 33. A spring 34 ismounted in a hollow annular space formed betweeneach 5 of the driven clutch elements and the gears 32 and 33 and servesto urge each of the drivefi clutch elements in a direction towards thedriving clutch, each of the springs being seated on a shoulder 36 formedrespectively in the'internal bore of the gears 32 and 33. A retainingring 31 seats in a groove formed on the outer periphery of the'drivenclutch elements 26 and 21, contacts with the splines and limits thelongitudinal displacement of the driven clutch elements in a directiontowards the driving clutch.

The gears 32 and 33 mesh with a beveled ring gear 4| and the rotation ofthe driving clutch 24 is in a direction such that engagement of saidelement with the driven clutch element 33 rotates the ring gear 4| in aclockwise direction, as viewed rear face a hollow outwardly extendingboss 42' suitably supported in the casing l3 .and into which projects aflexible driving union 43 which forms a driving connection with thelower roll shaft 44 through pin slot connections 4? and 46. The upperroll 49 is-driven from the lower roll through a pair of gears 50indicated in Figure 6 mounted on the opposite end of the rolls.

I have provided, as shown more clearly ii Figures 2, 3 and 8, means forutilizing the power of the drve, shaft I! to shift the driving clutchelement into engagement with either of the driven clutch elements 26 and27 or from either of said positions into a neutral position. On theperiphery of the driving-clutch, preferably integral therewith, are apair of cams 52 and 53 formed in a position and manner such that uponselective movement of a plurality of control plungers 54,, 55, and 56into engagement with the cam elements 52 and 53, the driving clutch isdepending upon the position of the driving clutch.

The control plungers 54, 55, and 56 are mounted for. sliding movement ina plurality of guide openings bored in a control housing 58 formed aspart of the casing l3 and are connected to finger-operated pushbuttoncontrols 60, 6| and 62 which project outside of the casing in aposition for convenient manipulation by the operator. It will beapparent that upon movement of the push button control 60 inwardly, thecontrol plunger 54 is moved into engagement with the upper side surfaceof the cam 52 when the driving clutch has moved to the proper position,and as the driving clutch continues to rotate, the power of the driveshaft positively camsthe driving clutches into a position to engage thedriven clutch element 21.. Because the driving clutch is positivelyshifted, in order to enable engagement of the clutch elements, thedriven clutches are resiliently'mounted as above described so that uponengagement of the face surfaces, the driven clutch 2'l moveslongitudinally of the shaft until further rotation'of the driving clutchenables the teeth of the elements to slide into engagement. Movement ofthe push button 6| actuates the control plunger 55 so as to move it intoengagement with the driving clutch element midway between the camswhereby, upon rotation, the

driven clutch element is restored to a neutral position. Actuation ofthe, lowermost ppsh button 62 serves to cam the driving clutch upwardlyinto engagement with the driven clutch 26 so as to reverse the rolls androtate them in a direction towards the operator, as viewed in Figures 1and 3.

Means are provided, whereby upon 'actuationlinks 64inter-connectedbetween the upper and ton 60 inwardly, the lower button62 through the link 64, is moved outwardly outof engagement with thedriving clutch element 24. v

Extending from each of the upper and lower buttons 60 and 62, as moreclearly shown in Figure 2, is a projection or arm 10 which contacts withthe center control button 6| for the purpose of inter-connectingthe'three buttons. The arms 10 together with the links 64, correlate theaction of the control buttons. If, for example, the button 6 is alreadyin operativeposition, upon movement of the upper button 66 inwardly intoengagement with the driving clutch element, the link 64 acts to move thecontrol button 62 outwardly a distance suflicient to enable the lower'arm 10, in contact with the center control button 6|, to pull thecontrol plunger 55 out of operative position with relation to thedriving clutch. In this manner, the control plunger 54 is moved intoengagement with the upper cam surface 52 to shift the driving clutch andduring this movement, the control plunger is automatically withdrawn. Ifeither the upper or lower control plungers 54 or 56 are in engagementwith the driving clutch and it is desired to stop rotation of the rolls,the center button is pushed. This causes movement of the arm 16 of thepush button which is not in operative position so as to move that pushbutton inwardly a slight distance thereby rotating the link 64 about itspivot. The rotation of the link 64 slides the control plunger which isin engagement with the driving clutch 24 from operative to inoperativeposition. It will thus be apparent that the center control button 6| hastwo positions of movement, as indicated in the dotted and full lines,while the upper and lower control buttons and 62 each have threepositions, an inner position, indicated by the dotted-line 12, anintermediate position indicated by the full lines in which position thedriving clutch is in neutral, and an extreme outer position indicated bythe dotted line I3. I r

As shown more clearly in Figures 3, 4, and 6,

- I have showna safety device for the wringer rolls which may be of anyof the various types *now commonly usedin connection with wringeroperated control for the wringer rolls.

The wrlnger rolls 46 and 49 are mounted in a' frame structure 15 inbearings 16 and 11 in such manner that upon release of a safety head 11,the pressure between, the rolls is relieved and the upper roll '49 maybe moved away from the lower roll 46. A locking link formed by a pair ofarms 19 is pivoted on a cross bar 82 and extends downwardly on theoutside of theroll shafts to a point near the bottom of the casing. Aplatform 84 is normally urged upwardly by a spring 96 and has extendingupwardly therefrom a pair of members 81 behind which the lock arms 19are positioned when the rolls are in a locked presa release bar 94extends across the wringer roll framein a convenient position to beactuated by the operator. The release bar 94 has at one end pivotedthereto a link 95 which is also pivoted to the casing. .A- similar link96 is pivoted to the release bar 94 on the other side and is pivoted at91 to a member 98 which extends through a slot 99 in the casing toengagea release link I9I. It will be observed, as shown in Figure 6,that a similar release bar 94, mounted on the opposite side of the roll,is connected to a release link I sure engagement.

I92 similar to the release'link WI. The release links areinter-connected by a cross bar I93 and pivot on the cross rod 9Ipreviously mentioned.

The lower ends of the release links I9I and I92 contact with 'a memberI94 pivotally' mounted near the bottom of the casing, the member I94contacting with the upper edges of the upstand ing members 81'on theplatform 84.

A release spring I96 is mounted in the safety head 11 by means of athreaded tension control knob I91. The ends ofthe spring contact withthe bearings 16 on opposite sides of the casing. When the,lock arms 19are in a position such that the cross rod 93is positioned in the notches92 and the lower ends of the arms 19 are positioned behind the members81, the spring I 96 may be tensioned by rotating the control knob I91and the rolls 46 and 49'brought into pres- When the release bar 94 ispushed either accidentally or for the purpose of releasing the rolls,

the link 96 ispushed toward the right, moving the member 98 in the slotformed near the top of the casing which, in turn, pushes the releaselinks I92 about the cross rod 9| so as to rotate the release links I 92in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure '1. Rotation of the releaselinks ment with the lock rod 93. The spring I96 then vits operation iscorrelated with my novel powerthe lock arms ride behind the ends of .theupstanding members 81 being cammed over into 'such position andtolocking posi ion with rearm II2.has a bearing in the casing I3 intowhich it extends. A U-shaped arm II8 extends around 'the bevel gear 33and is fixed to the crank arm and pivoted at II9 to the other side ofthe casing. An integral portion I29 of the U-shaped ,arm 9 extendsupwardly and is pivotally secured to'an L-shaped arm I2I. The

L-shaped arm I2I is apertured at its extremity to slidably receive thecenter control plunger 55 which is of decreased diameter at the point ofattachment to form a shoulder at I22 so that when the plunger rod 55 isout of engagement with the driving clutch element 24, the shoulder I22is in engagement with the Lshaped arm I2 I.

When the release bar 94 is operated, as above described, the lock arms19 move upwardly, enabling the spring II3 to act to rotate the crank armI I2. The rotation of the crank arm moves the L-shaped arm I2I inwardlywhich, through engagement with the shoulder I22, moves the controlplunger inwardly to operative position to cam the drivingclutch 24 bythe power of the drive shaft into a neutral position.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown a structure in which two sets of pushbutton controls are arranged on opposite sides of the casing I3 so thatthe wrin'ger roll driving and reversing mechthe rear side of the casingare inter-connected in a. manner similar to that described in connectionwith push b ittons 69, 6|, and 62. The sets of push buttons on oppositesides of the casing are connected by a cross bar I39 curved around thedriving clutch 24 and pivotally connected to the pins which retain thelinks 64. The center push button I28 is connected to a control plungerI3I similar to the control plunger 55, while the upper and lower pushbuttons I21 and I29 are centrally bored to receive. members I32 fixed inthe casing. The push buttons I21 and I29 do not operate directly on thedriving clutch 24 merely, upon manipulation, sliding inwardly andoutwardly on the members I32,'their motion being transmitted through thelinks 64 and cross bar I39 to operate the control plu'ngers on theopposite side of the casing. It will be observed that operation of thelower push button I29 moves the control plunger 54 into operativeposition, while operation "of the upper push button I21 actuates thelower control plunger on the opposite side. Thus, actuation of the upperpush button when the operator is standing at the front of the machine,moves the clothes fed between the rolls, in a direction away from theoperator, while actuation of the upper push button at the rear of themachine, reverses the direction of the rolls, but from the operatorsposition at the rear of the machine, the clothes are fed in a direction.away from the operator.

In 'Figures 3 and 8 the cams 52 and, 53 are curved continuously aroundthe surface of the driving clutch so that when the control plunger ispushed inwardly, unless the driving clutch is in such position as toenable immediate engagement, a time interval must elapse during whichthe operator must maintain contact on the push button until the camrotates into a position such that the control plunger may be pushed intoengagement with the effective surface of the cam. To decrease this timeinterval, I have provided, as shown in Figures 10 and 12, a doubleacting cam so that the longest time interval which may, elapse beforeengagement may take place, is reduced from 180 degrees rotation of thedriving power.

clutch, to 90 degrees. It will be apparent that engagement of thecontrol plunger may-be 00- casioned over a considerable arc of movementof the driving clutch on opposite sides thereof so from the scope of myinvention, as set forth in the appendedclaims.

I claim: 1; Th combination with apressure releasing safety vice for aroll wringing mechanism of a washing machine, of driving mechanism forrotating the rolls, said driving mechanism including a movable clutchelement, means for revers ing the direction of rotation of the rollscomprising a pair of driven clutch elements, poweroperated means formoving said-movable clutch element into engagement with either of saiddriven clutch elements or into a neutral position, manually operatedmeans. for selectively controlling the operation of said power-operatedmeans, and means actuated upon release of said safety device foroperating said power-operated means to throw said movable clutch to aneutral position.

2. The .combination with a pressure releasing,

' safety device for a roll wringing mechanism of a washing machine, ofdriving mechanism for rotating the rolls,.said driving mechanismincluding a driving clutch element, means for reversing the direction ofrotation of the rolls comprising a pair of driven clutch elements, aplurality of manually operated elements for selectively con' triallingtheposition of said driving clutch element, means associated with saiddriving clutch element whereby upon engagement of said manually operatedmeans therewith, the power of said driving mechanism is utilized tothrow said driving clutch element into the selected position, and meansactuated upon operation of said safety device for automaticallythrowing. one of said manually operated elements into a position suchthat said driving clutch element is thrown to a neutral'position. I

3. In a mechanism for wringing clothes, a driving shaft, a drivingclutch element rotated by said driving shaft, a driven clutch element,and means including manually operated means for utilizing the power ofsaid driving shaft to exert I a positive action on said driving clutchelement to throw said driving clutch element into engagement with saiddriven clutch element.

4. In a control mechanism for the pressure rolls of a clothes wringer, aunitary driving and reversing mechanism for the rolls including a driveshaft, a driving clutch element and a pair of driven clutch elements,and means including manually operated means for utilizing the power ofsaid drive shaft to throw said driving clutch element into engagementwith either of said driven clutch elements.

5. In a drive mechanism for the pressure rolls of a clothes wringer, adrivingshaft, a driving clutch element rotated by said shaft, a pair ofresiliently mounted driven clutch elements, said driving clutch elementhaving a plurality of cam surfaces, and a plurality of manually operatedmembers selectively movable into engagement with said cam surfaceswhereby the power of said driving shaft is utilized to throw saiddriving clutch element into engagement with either of said driven clutchelements.

6. In a drive mechanism for the pressure rolls ofa clothes wringer,adriving shaft, a driving clutch element rotated by said shaft, a pairof driven clutch elements, means for applying the power of said drivingshaft to move said driving clutch element into engagement with either ofsaid driven clutch velements comprising a plurality of manually operatedmembers movable into and out of operative association with said drivingclutch element, and means whereby upon movement of one of said manuallyoperated members into operative position with relation to said drivingclutch element,-another of said manually operated members isautomatically moved out of operative position. I

'7. In a drive mechanism for the pressure rolls of a clothes wringer, adriving shaft, a driving clutch element rotated by said shaft, a pair ofresiliently mounted driven clutch elements, means for applying thepower'of said driving shaft to move said drivingvclutch element intoengagement with either of said drivenclutch elements or to a neutralposition comprising a plurality of manually operated members, and meansinter-connecting said manually operated members whereby movement of oneof said manually operated members to operative position moves another ofsaid members to inoperative position.

8. The combination in a wringer roll reversing .mechanism, of a drivingclutch element and a pair of driven clutch elements, and meansassociated with said driving clutch element for applying power theretoto throw said driving clutch element into engagement with either of tionof the rolls 'is reversed, power means for rotating said driving clutchelement, and means ment of said driving clutch element into engagementwith' one of driven clutch elements, the rolls rotate inonedirection and upon movement into engagement with the other of saiddriven clutch elements, the rotation of the rolls movement of one ofsaid manually operated members into operative position, anothen of saidmembers is automatically moved out of operative position. i 11. Inacontrol mechanism for the wringer rolls of a washing machine, a drivingand a driven clutchelement, a manually operated member having a neutraland an operative position and for use solely in moving said clutchelements into engagementand a manually operated member having a neutraland an operative position and'for use solely for moving said clutchelements out'of engagement, and means interconnecting said manuallyoperated members for moving one of said manually operated members to theneutral position when the other of said members is moved to theoperative position.

12. In a control mechanism for the pressure rolls of a clothes wringer,a pair of rotatable rolls,

\ means for rotating said rolls, mechanism for controlling theoperation'of said rolls, acasing for housing said control mechanism, aplurality ofmanually operable push buttons extending into said casing,and means secured to'the casing and interconnecting at least two of saidpush buttons whereby the movement of one of said push --buttons intooperative position moves the other of said push buttons out of operativeposition.

13. In a control mechanism for the wringer rolls of a washing machine; apair of rotatable rolls, means for rotating said rolls, mechanism forcontrolling the operation of said rolls, a

' casing 'for'housing said control mechanism, a

. moving said member out of operative position upon'moveme'nt of eitherof said inter-connected members into operative position.

14. In' a control mechanism forthe wringer rolls of a washing machine, apair of rotatable rolls, means for rotating said rolls, mechanism forcontrolling the operation of said rolls, a casing for housing saidcontrol mechanism; 'a plurality of manually operated control membersextendingoutwardly fromsaid casing on opposite sides thereof, and meansin the casing interconnecting said members whereby the wringer I rollsmay be controlled from either side thereof.

15. In a control mechanism for the wringer rolls of a washing machine, apair of rotatable rolls, means for rotating said rolls, mechanism forcontrolling the operation of said rolls, a casing for housing saidcontrol mechanism, rolldriving and reversing mechanism in said casing,

manually operated mean's extending outside of- Sam casing on oppositesides thereof, means engageable by said manually operated means forapplying the power of said roll driving mechanism to cause engagementand disengagement thereof, and means extending through the casing forinter-connecting said manually operated means.

16 Ina control mechanism for the pressure 5 rolls of a clothes wringer,a unitary driving and reversing mechanism for the rolls including adrive shaft, a pair of driven clutch elements mountedon said shaft, adriving clutch element mounted on said shaft and shiftable intoengagement with either of said driven clutch elements, and meansincluding manually operated means for utilizing the power of said driveshaft to shift said driving clutch element into or out of engagementwith either of said driven clutch element non-rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a 20 toothed driven clutch element, said drivenclutch elementbeing rotatably and resiliently mounted on said shaft whereby when theteeth of the driving clutch element are moved into contact with theteeth of the driven clutch element the resilient mounting of the drivenclutch element will enable a yielding thereof whereby the teeth of theclutch elements may be moved into engagement without undue clashing.

18. In a control mechanism for the pressure rolls of a clothes wringer,means for rotating the rolls comprising a drive shaft, a toothed drivingclutch element non-rotatably mounted on said shaft, a toothed drivenclutch element rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for applying thepower of the drive shaft to shift said driving clutch element along saidshaft-into engagement with said driven clutch element, said drivenclutch element being resiliently mounted whereby it may yield when thefaces of the teeth of the clutch elements are brought into engagement sothat the teeth of the driving and driven clutch elements may be broughtinto registry before the driving clutch element is pushed intoengagement with the teeth of the driven clutch element,

19.- In a control mechanism for the pressure rolls of a clothes wringer,the combination of a unitary driving and reversing mechanism for therolls including a constantly rotating drive shaft,

a casing for the mechanism, a pair of driven b clutch elements looselymounted on said drive shaft, a driving clutch member splined to andconstantly rotating with said driveshaft and having a driving clutchelement on each endthereof, cam surfaces on said driving clutch member,three pushbuttons projecting externally of the casing and havingportions thereof projecting. into the casing engageable with the camsurfaces on said driving clutch member, one of said push buttons whenpushed inward engagingone of said cam surfaces to urge the drivingclutch member along said shaft in a direction such that one' of saiddriving clutch elements engages a driven clutch element and the rollsare rotated in one direction, said action being accomplished by thedriving clutch member .along said shaft in the 7 opposite direction sothat the other of said driving clutch elements engages the other of saiddriven clutch elements and the rolls are rotated in the reversedirection, said action also being accomplished by the power of the driveshaft 76 through the continued rotation of. the driving clutch member,and the third of said push butmember from either of its drivingpositionsby the power of the drive shaft through the continued rotationof the driving clutch member.

20. In a control mechanism for the pressure rolls of aclothes wringer,the combination of a unitary driving and reversing mechanism for therolls including a constantly rotating drive shaft,'

a. casing for the mechanism, a pair of driven clutch elements looselymounted on said drive shaft, a driving clutch member-splined to andconstantly rotating with said drive shaft and having a driving clutchelement on each end thereof, said clutch'elements-being toothed and eachof said driven clutch elements being yieldingly mounted so that when thedriving clutch elements are thrown into engagement therewith they mayyield in the. direction of movement of the driving clutch element toenable engagement of the clutch elements without undue clashing ofclutch teeth, cam surfaces on said driving clutch member, three pushbuttons projecting exter-.

nally of the casing and having portions there'of projecting into thecasing engageable with the cam surfaces on said driving clutch member,one of said push buttons when pushed inward engaging one of said camsurfaces to urge the driving clutch. member along said shaft i adirection such that one of said driving clut n elements engages a drivenclutch element and. the rolls are rotated in one direction, said actionbeing accomplished by the power of the drive shaft through the continuedrotation'of' the driving action also being accomplished by the power ofthe drive shaft through the continued rotation of'thedriving' clutchmember, and the third of said push buttons when pushed inward engagingother of said cam surfaces to withdraw the driving clutchmember fromeither of 'its driving, positions by the power of the drive shaftthrough PETER EDUARD GELDHOF. v

